Random Chance

I used to hate Thursdays, but now I love them. And yesterday was a bonus because I got to see friend whom I adore and haven't gotten to spend much time with since Cinderella ended.

We went to Starbucks this afternoon just to catch up and pray, talk about The Royal Stage, and just sort of update our friendship. It wasn't hellishly hot outside today and so we sat on the patio. We were only out there a little while when all of a sudden this girl who was probably a little younger than me comes wailing out onto the patio - she sits down at the table, sobbing into her cell phone. She is beyond upset, and we keep trying to have our conversation but keep becoming distracted by her tears.

Her cell phone starts to beep those anxious beeps of death as her battery starts to give out, and she is still whimpering and smoking cigarette after cigarette.

"I feel like we should pray for her," I told M.

M told me that if I felt led to, then I should. I made up excuses. Nah, she is going back inside the Starbucks now. Oh...she's coming back out again. She catches our gaze.

"Sorry guys - I know I am being loud over here. I just had a really bad couple of days."

Oh, we say, we are sorry to hear that. Awkward pause...gaze broken.

"I really feel like we should go pray."

M: Well let's go.

Girl gets up, is embraced by a scrungy guy who has come to pick her up. She gets in her car, and I can't handle the urgency rushing through my brain anymore. We get up and I sprint across the parking lot and all but throw myself in front of their car.

This would have been a good time to run me over, but they opted not to. Thank you!

I waved and she opened her door looking at me like I was a total lunatic. The floor of her car was covered with cigarette boxes and other wreckage that just seemed to signify a life in distress.

"I know this sounds really weird, but I feel really led to pray for you. Would that be okay?"

Her confused gaze is replaced with sort of surprise/shock. "Yes. Please!"

So we pray for her. And then she hugs me and just cries in my arms for what seemed like a long time. One of those sad movie hugs. She had a smile on her face afterward, and thanked me for praying for her.

I don't know her story - I don't know if I will ever see her again (we exchanged numbers), or if she knows Jesus.

But it felt good to strap on a pair and be bold enough to do the right thing.

I want more of that in my life.

P.S. - She looked exactly like Lilly from The Princess Diaries - as a side note.